MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 241 



of the former surmounting the white shorts and black stockings 

 of the other. Altogether, however, they were uncommonly smart, 

 and it is to be hoped that they appreciated each other. 



The dinner was sumptuous. Puff, of course, was in the chair ; 

 and Captain Guano coming last into the room, and being very fond 

 of office, was vice. When men run to the " noble science " of 

 gastronomy, they generally outstrip the ladies in the art of dinner- 

 giving, for they admit of no makeweight, or merely ornamental 

 dishes, but concentrate the cook's energies on sterling and ap- 

 proved dishes. Everything men set on is meant to be eaten. Above 

 all, men are not too fine to have the plate-warmer in the room, the 

 deficiency of hot plates proving fatal to many a fine feast. It was 

 evident that Puff prided himself on his table. His linen was the 

 finest and whitest, his glass the most elegant and transparent, his 

 plate the brightest, and his wines the most costly and recherche. 

 Like many people, however, who are not much in the habit of 

 dinner-giving, he was anxious and fussy, too intent upon making 

 people comfortable to allow of their being so, and too anxious to 

 get victuals and drink down their throats to allow of their enjoying 

 either. 



Ee not only produced a tremendous assortment of wines — Hock, 

 Sautcrne, Champagne, Barsack, Burgundy, but descended into 

 -endless varieties of sherries and Madeiras. These he pressed upon 

 people, always insisting that the last sample was the best. 



In these hospitable exertions Puffington was ably assisted by 

 Captain Guano, who, being fond of wine, came in for a good 

 quantity ; first of all by asking everyone to take wine with him, 

 and then in return everyone asking him to do the same with them. 

 The present absurd non-asking system was not then in vogue. 

 The great captain, noisy and talkative at all times, began to be 

 boisterous almost before the cloth was drawn. 



Puffington was equally promiscuous with his after-dinner wines. 

 He had all sorts of clarets, and " curious old ports." The party 

 did not seem to have any objection to spoil their digestions for 

 the next day, and took whatever he produced with great alacrity. 

 Lengthened were the candle examinations, solemn the sips, and 

 sounding the smacks that preceded the delivery of their Campbell- 

 like judgments. 



The conversation, which at first was altogether upon wine, 

 gradually diverged upon sporting, and they presently brewed up a 

 very considerable cry. Foremost among the noisy ones was Captain 

 Guano. He seemed inclined to take the shine out of everybody. 



" Oh ! if they could but find a good fox that would give them a 

 run of ten miles — say, ten miles — just ten miles would satisfy him 

 — say, from Barnesley Wold to Chingforde Wood, or from Carleburg- 

 Clump to Wetherden Head. He was going to ride his famous 



